2013 PHR Street Machine Autocross

It seems almost incongruous that anyone living in a state as large and as flat as Texas would have the slightest desire to refine the art of executing precise, low-speed turns on a tight autocross course. In a state where flat-out top speed reigns supreme, it seems ironic that a 45-mph autocross would glean so much attention—and even more ironic when that autocross takes place in the infield parking area of one of NASCAR's fastest tracks—the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. Yet that was the scene at the Goodguys Third Lonestar Spring Nationals this past March 15-17.

Unlike open road racing or a road course, the autocross experience is far closer to what one might encounter if making laps around your neighborhood or local mall at supra-legal speeds. Think of it as a way to get all those automotive hijinks out of your system without getting a big fat ticket, or even worse, thrown in the slam. The PHR Street Machine Autocross is our way of telling you "yes" in the politically correct nanny world of "no!" Texas might indeed be the land of top speed, but it also where some of the fastest and priciest speeding tickets are issued; by contrast, the autocross keeps things safe and legal, and you even get a large audience with bragging rights.

2/20

Of the 19 events that the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association is putting on in 2013, they have had or will have the Street Machine Autocross at 16 of them. In just a few short years, the autocross has gone from a minor sideshow, to the main spectator event at the venues it's run. It seems like everyone young and old is curious about all of the tire squealing, and once they see it, they can't stop watching. Sooner or later, they're out there doing it themselves. Who among us isn't curious how their street machine stacks up against the competition when the clock is running?!

We'll be the first to admit it: Autocrossing is a gateway drug. Do it once or twice, and before you know it, you're ordering chassis parts, suspension, steering, brakes, wheels, and tires. A better lap time is only one more bolt-on away. Then comes the quest for more speed at the faster tracks. At the moment, it looks like that's where things are headed; the Street Machine Autocross finals in Scottsdale this coming November 15-17 will be at a new high-speed autocross circuit that ups the speed ante significantly. (Helmets will be required for this track.) Can a club course circuit be in Goodguys future? We can only hope!

3/20Jeff Peoples (Ridgeland, Mississippi) is a regular at the Fort Worth Street Machine autocross with his current ride, a fuel-injected 455-powered Buick Gran Sport, but he showed us a rendering of his newest project, a 1964 Buick Skylark that’s in the works. Jeff says to watch for it in our upcoming Readers’ Projects issue!

7/20

Street Machine Autocross Results

Driver:

Year:

Make:

Model:

Lap:

Josh Leisinger

'70

Chevy

Camaro

57.917

Brett Campbell

'67

Chevy

Camaro

58.189

Terry Neuville

'68

Chevy

Camaro

58.769

Mike Dusold

'67

Chevy

Camaro

59.848

Gary Lackore

'71

Chevy

Corvette

60.196

Karen Leisinger

'70

Chevy

Camaro

61.131

Chris Moore

'72

Ford

Maverick

61.225

Blanton Payne

'67

Morris

Mini

61.768

Jay Deluca

'69

Chevy

Camaro

61.815

Tim Bowler

'71

Chevy

Camaro

61.913

Jeff Peoples

'72

Buick

GS

61.938

Ted Parrish

'66

Ford

Cobra

63.192

Ted Parrish

'56

Pontiac

Wagon

64.365

Lance Jackson

'65

Ford

Mustang

64.971

Aaron Sockwell

'69

Chevy

Camaro

65.034

Mark Burrow

'70

Chevy

Camaro

65.250

Terri Neuville

'68

Chevy

Camaro

65.536

Gary Hopper

'69

Chevy

Camaro

65.930

Dennis Tanker

'69

Ford

Mustang

66.143

Frank Manzare

'71

Chevy

Camaro

66.612

Jay Wright

'69

Chevy

Camaro

67.205

Jack Webster

'65

Chevy

Corvair

67.235

Lance Howlett

'68

Ford

Mustang

67.615

Reggie Noland

'69

Chevy

Camaro

67.670

Justin Day

'69

Pontiac

Firebird

68.023

Jim Dewberry

'69

Chevy

Camaro

70.002

Keith Broadon

'55

Chevy

Bel Air

70.880

Rodney Moore

'70

Plymouth

'Cuda

72.071

Darrell Balmer

'67

Pontiac

Firebird

75.198

Roger Minyard

'57

Chevy

210

75.320

Cori Criswell

'65

Ford

Cobra

77.222

Danny Barboza

'61

Chevy

Corvette

87.943

11/20Lots of Tri-Five guys are scared off by the autocross—but not Roger Minyard (Bowling Green, Kentucky) and his 1957 Chevy 210—both Power Tour long-haulers. There’s nothing sacred, it’s just sheetmetal, and Rog had his LT1-powered, 4L60E-cogged machine humming through the cones.